From Conflict to Creativity: How Resolving Workplace Disagreements Can Inspire Innovation and Productivity [Paperback]

Sy Landau (Author), Barbara Landau (Author), Daryl Landau (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 2001

From Conflict to Creativity offers leaders, managers, boards of directors, and team members a new way of thinking about conflict in the workplace. Within these pages, three experts in the field of workplace conflict resolution Sy, Barbara, and Daryl Landau present an innovative and proven collaborative model that can help resolve on-the-job conflicts and unleash the potential for creativity. Using the information and tools presented in this book can take any organization from a place that merely tolerates conflict to a dynamic environment that uses everyday differences to enhance creativity.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"Conflict in organizations is natural and inevitable," the Landaus state at the outset of this clear and concise guide for not only managing such conflict successfully but harnessing its potential to develop creative solutions to organizational challenges. In discussing common strategies adopted for dealing with unproductive conflict (avoidance, competition, accommodation and compromise), the authors cite examples from their wide experience as mediation, negotiation and dispute resolution consultants. This wife/husband/ son team argues that a collaborative process appealing to the interests of all sides has the greatest potential for promoting free discussion of ideas while encouraging the committed participation of all, and for turning conflict into an opportunity for joint problem solving. They assert that once people's energies are redirected from sniping at each other to working together, the conflict inherent in a diversity of opinions can become an invaluable asset. The Landaus have found that an effective organization is one that generates conflict (of the good variety) in order to brainstorm and debate ideas fully and candidly before adoption and implementation. Their recommendation to foster "creative contention" and to be "hard on the problem but soft on the people" depends crucially, however, on fearless leaders with a gift for facilitating in a supportive workplace, an admirable combination that may be all too rare in today's harsh business landscape. (Nov.)Forecast: With the potential for destructive conflict escalating in workplaces around the country and managers desperate to stem declining morale, the concrete, experience-based insights of this book should garner excellent word-of-mouth.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"High performance organizations are creative organizations. Drawing upon real life experiences, the Landaus guide you through the process of harnessing conflict to produce creative solutions." —John G. Smalley, former vice president and director of human resources, The Canada Life Assurance Company

"Conflict and creativity-two of the lowest rated leadership competencies that make the biggest differences in results. This book is a must for managers, executives, coaches, and teams interested in breaking through the barriers to high performance." —Susan Wright, principal, The Coaching Project Inc.

"The Landaus tap their extensive and diverse experience in interest-based conflict resolution to provide a practical guide for managing conflict within organizations. They offer a steady flow of real-life examples to illustrate techniques for managing both the creative and destructive effects of differences." —Jay Folberg, professor of law, University of San Francisco and coauthor, Mediation: A Comprehensive Guide

"The Landaus' easy to understand approach makes this a useful handbook even for those new to conflict resolution in organizations." —Christine E. Hart, president, Accord/Hart & Associates

"A very clear and comprehensive guide to harnessing the creative potential of diverse work environments, written by authors with over seventy years of relevant collective experience." —Cynthia J. Chataway, York University, Toronto

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (October 26, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0787954233
• ISBN-13: 978-0787954239
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #77,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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